Car Recall Tracker

Home › Ford › Explorer › 25V543000

Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator trailer lights may fail

NHTSA campaign 25V543000 · Reported 2025-08-22 · Ford Motor Company

low How serious is it? About this label

The notice does not tell you to stop driving, but it raises the chance of a crash whenever you are pulling a trailer.

What's wrong, in plain English

If you tow a trailer, the lights on the back of the trailer may not come on. The problem is a badly made control computer in the vehicle that sends power to the trailer's lights. Drivers behind your trailer may not see it, especially at night or in poor weather. A dealer will replace the computer on low-mileage vehicles, or test it first and replace it if it fails.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is covered.
2. Contact your Ford or Lincoln dealer, or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 (recall 25C42), for an appointment.
3. Get the module checked or replaced free of charge.

Affected vehicles (2)

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Lincoln — official Lincoln recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Official notice

Component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. When towing a trailer, the tail lights on the trailer may fail to illuminate due to an improperly manufactured body control module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Safety risk
Trailer tail lights that do not illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the body control module C on vehicles with less than 9,000 miles. For vehicles over 9,000 miles, dealers will perform a functional check on the body control module C and replace it as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Aviator 2025 owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2025. Explorer 2025 owner letters were mailed November 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C42.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.